Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Building momentum
Dolphins QB Tannehill keeps it positive.
DAVIE — Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill has grown accustomed to this point of the year.
Even though the regular-season opener is not until Sept. 9 against the Tennessee Titans, the season started once this week began. Miami plays the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium, and it will likely be the final time Tannehill and the rest of the starters suit up before the Titans game.
“Game-plan preparation,” Tannehill said after Tuesday’s practice. “We’re setting up how we can go through a normal week, so meetings, install and everything is pretty similar to a normal week. It gives us a good dress rehearsal, so to speak, of your process through the week, creating habits of what days you do what.”
Tannehill missed all last year after sustaining a knee injury during training camp. He has completed 18-of-23 passes for 132 yards through two preseason games. Last week, he resembled the quarterback who was on pace to lead the Dolphins to the 2016 playoffs before a knee injury ended his season in Miami’s 13th game.
He was 14 of 17 for 100 yards with a 91.2 passer rating in a 27-20 loss to the Carolina Panthers.
“I think the ball went in the right spot, except for the one I overthrew Jakeem
“We’re getting some good work the past couple drives we’ve been out there. That has to continue this week.” Ryan Tannehill
[Grant] down the left sideline,” Tannehill said. “Other than that, the ball was in the right spot. … I think we did a good job of taking what was there.”
After missing 20 games the last two seasons, Tannehill is using every opportunity to enter the year on a positive note. He’s all about building momentum as he begins his seventh season in the league.
“I know that if you’re constantly playing well, usually you’re going to continue playing well,” Tannehill said. “As far as final score and things like that, that’s probably a big indicator. You kind of think, ‘Are you getting better each week?’ That’s a big deal.’ ”
Tannehill feels the offense is trending upward because of the offensive line play and maturity of running back Kenyon Drake. In his second year, Drake has especially benefited from the addition of Frank Gore. He has served as a mentor.
“We’re building in the right direction,” Tannehill said. “We’re still installing a few things, trying to master a few things. I have a lot of work to do. … We’re getting some good work the past couple drives we’ve been out there. That has to continue this week.”
Among the concerns for coach Adam Gase is the Dolphins’ play on third downs. They are just 4 of 24 in the preseason. Most of the issues have been a result of first- and seconddown struggles.
“Our guys understand this week, that has to be our focus,” Gase said. “If we want to be better on third down, we have to clean up first and second down, and then when we get third-and-manageable, we have to convert. Everybody needs to do the right thing.”
Tannehill said the problems are a mix of mental and physical mistakes. The main culprit has been penalties.
“I would probably say it was a little more mental because of penalties,” Tannehill said.
“But some of those penalties come because of not having your hands in the right spot. They go together. I thought we moved the ball well last week. We had penalties and then put ourselves in some third-and-long situations. Obviously, you need to limit those.”
Nearly a month after the start of training camp, the Dolphins hope a game-like approach this week will speed up the process of correcting the issues. They have made this week feel like the regular season much as possible.
“It’s definitely a little different because your schedule is going to be like it’s in season,” center Daniel Kilgore said.
“You’re not here from 6:30 to 8:30 at night. Your mindset is a little bit different. For me, I have a mindset of playing a full game whereas before you’re not going to play the full game in the first two preseason games. Mentally, it’s just a dry run of a regular-season game.”